A new technique for multiple resources targeting and optimization: application to water-energy nexus

Abstract

Energy and water are two valuable resources that are commonly utilized in all sectors, ranging from residential consumption to industrial processes. As conservation of resources is becoming a priority, the optimization of energy or water system becomes more important. Simultaneous optimization of the resources is crucial to avoid the under-sizing of systems, as they rely on one another to operate. Therefore, a Water-Energy Nexus Cascade Analysis is introduced in this study to concurrently optimize both water and energy system. A case study involving a residential community comprising of 50,000 household units with daily electricity and water demand of 8,250 MWh and 150,000 m3 was adapted. A power plant was used to meet the electricity demand, while a water treatment plant was used to meet the clean water demand. Result revealed that the required water treatment plant capacity was 7,207 m3/h and the water storage tank capacity was 35,000 m3. The power plant was required to operate at 359.78 MW and its energy storage capacity was 1143.78 MWh. Optimizing the two systems individually results in an undersized system, 13.3% for the water treatment plant and 4.5% for the power plant.